Like a Bad Dream

[visual_music]

Please go easy on me. I'm fairly new to photography. But today I was shooting a graduation party and someone threw something at me. Knocked my d10 w/ef 24-70 2.8L out of my hands and into the grass.

I was sick.

The camera seems to be fine, but the lens snapped of at the plastic joint. It looks like the small circuit board may or may not have suffered. There wasn't much hard impact because of the grass, but I'll need to replace the piece of the lens that connects to the camera...possibly the first peice of glass. Not sure.

Can anyone give me any advice, including where to take it in Nashville. Also, does anyone know if it may be something I can just order from Canon and repair myself. I'll call Monday morning, but I thought I'd ask here first.

Thanks for any help you can give.

[fetching]

Please go easy on me. I'm fairly new to photography. But today I was shooting a graduation party and someone threw something at me. Knocked my d10 w/ef 24-70 2.8L out of my hands and into the grass.

I was sick.

The camera seems to be fine, but the lens snapped of at the plastic joint. It looks like the small circuit board may or may not have suffered. There wasn't much hard impact because of the grass, but I'll need to replace the piece of the lens that connects to the camera...possibly the first peice of glass. Not sure.

Can anyone give me any advice, including where to take it in Nashville. Also, does anyone know if it may be something I can just order from Canon and repair myself. I'll call Monday morning, but I thought I'd ask here first.

Thanks for any help you can give.


do you know who threw the thing at you? i'd figure that out and insist they help you pay for the repair/replacement.

that really sucks. :(

[Dante King]

Send it in to canon for service. YOu really need to know what you are doing to repair a lens. AS well something else like the elements might have been knocked out of position.

I would find that person and open a HUGE can of whoop ass and after they paid for their hospital time, I would have them pay for the repair to the lens. What a jerk! Just kidding about the violence though. You should never do that....you should pay for someone to do it for you... LOL

[Cadwell]

Sorry to hear about it.

First off, it would seem that whoever threw something at you is solely responsible for the costs of repair / replacement. If they don't do it willingly, then have them charged with assault.

Second, your best bet is to send the lens off to a Canon repair centre to be fixed and recalibrated.

[sixshot]

Must find out who did that and send the boys round for payment.

[rg-tom]

wow i wouldve expected better from the 24-70L than to fall apart after a fall onto grass, thats one of the main reasons L glass is popular, the apparant toughness of them!

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

Man, that's terrible! I would have absolutely flipped out!

The day I got my 20d I put the neck strap on it immediately and when ever I use it, it's around my neck that way if anyone bumps into me or something and it falls out of my hand, at least it doesn't make it's way to the ground.

Sounds like you don't know who threw the thing at you. So, that makes matters even worse I guess. Send it to canon I guess like everyone else has said.

Man, I feel so bad for you!

[drisley]

RbrtPtikLeoSeny, I'm the same way. As soon as I pick up my 20D, I put the strap around my neck.
RG-Tom, I agree. I thought the 24-70L was supposed to be as rugged a lens as any. For it to fall apart just falling on the grass doesn't seem right.
But still, I would be seriously peeved, and would definately make the person who threw the projectile pay for repairs.

[kraterz]

Hmmm... L lenses aren't as tough as they are made out to be. I've seen a PJ friend of mine with his 28-70L in the film days, his AF/MF switch came off (literally almost fell off), it was simply hanging to the lens body by the wires. No matter what Canon tells us, current L's are nowhere as tough as the old manual focus metal barrel lenses. I still have an ancient Tokina 135/2.8 which is so solidly built, it has lasted me over 20 years, taking plenty of abuse, and still keeps going.

[drisley]

Kraterz, Tokina still makes them tough.
My Tokina 17mm ATX Pro is actually built tougher than my L lenses, and has the smooth manual focus ring of the ol' days.

[Tom W]

Kraterz, Tokina still makes them tough.
My Tokina 17mm ATX Pro is actually built tougher than my L lenses, and has the smooth manual focus ring of the ol' days.

Mmmmm - smoooth. I might look at one of those.

[willg]

i'm from nashville...check out dury's pro shop...i hear they are very good

[Persian-Rice]

In first, order, I understand how it feels to mess your lens up, I dropped a 70-200 once.
Its expensive to fix, so good luck, call Canon directly.

As for the rest, How can you guys be critical of the build? I find that unfair, if you expect it to survive from dropping from your hands, no matter where you drop it, then you are expecting too much. Secondly, the 24-70 is a pretty heavy lens, it will get hurt if it falls. Dris, I have held a Tokina, although I think it is built better then my 17-40 or even the same as the 24-70, I still don't think you wouldnt like to know the outcome if you dropped it would you?

Guys these things are primarily glass wrapped in thin metal or plastics, they will break. If you had dropped it on the sidewalk be sure you would have shattered a couple elements too.

Good Luck.

[drisley]

I would hope that if I dropped my Tokina on grass, it wouldn't break apart like the above lens.
In fact, I wouldn't expect any of my lenses to do that (the heaviest is the 135L).
But no way I'm going to give it a try? Anybody with a 300/2.8L wanna try?

[Citizensmith]

Hmmm... L lenses aren't as tough as they are made out to be. I've seen a PJ friend of mine with his 28-70L in the film days, his AF/MF switch came off (literally almost fell off), it was simply hanging to the lens body by the wires. No matter what Canon tells us, current L's are nowhere as tough as the old manual focus metal barrel lenses.

I think luck plays a big factor as well. I watch a guy drop a 16-35. It bounced and rolled about 150 feet down a steep rocky slope and came to rest in a pile of snow. Some interesting language was used, but the lens actually survived. Also I'm not sure that they are less tough than the old lenses, more that there is a great deal more that can get broken.

[Lamplight]

I dropped my 18-55mm kit lens onto asphalt from about chest-height and it didn't harm it, BUT it wasn't attached to a camera. ;)

[steibeldj]

wow i wouldve expected better from the 24-70L than to fall apart after a fall onto grass, thats one of the main reasons L glass is popular, the apparant toughness of them!

I agree. What kind of grass you growing in those parts? Seriously, Knowing what you paid for that lens, I feel your pain.:(

[johnnybfan]

virtual_music - don't take this wrong (I'm not a wise a__) lol but this would have been a great time to have had insurance on your outfit. That aside i think you should get name, address, etc. of the person who threw whatever at you, and give them a chance to reimburse you. If they decline just take him/her to small claims court (if available) and let him/her know that you will be swearing out a complaint with the police. Each of us is (supposed to be) responsible for our actions. Maybe a tactfully put reminder will be enough.Good luck!

[visual_music]

Thanks for the support, and suggestions. The person who was at fault was some young kid that was there. To sue, I'd have to drag their parents into court.

RbrtPtikLeoSeny, I did flip out. But after looking closely at it, I think it can be repaired.
willg, I will call Dury's tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion.
steibeldj and Lamplight, it was the way it landed that made it snap off the camera. It was a perfect landing for a perfect separation.
johnnybfan, I'd just discussed getting all my gear insured, but hadn't done it yet.
I neglected to mention, I just bought this lens, received it on Thursday. That's what really bit.

Thanks for all the suggestions. The support here is great.

[Huckaback Photo]

Visual Music
Welcome to the forum.
Sorry to read in your first post about the lens, and even worse the fact you only got it a few days before.
yes I would be Pi..... off, same as you I guess.
I use the 28 - 70L version which has the metal mount,
we often read on hear about lenses with plastic mounts are not as good as the metal versions.
NOTE... I am only reffering to the mount not the lens quallity.
Following on from what happened to you the plastic mount may have been an advantage in some ways, as it seems the body miraculously survived due to plastic breaking off, could have been different if metal with pos body damage as well.

If like me you don't like using the kneck strap all the time, get yourself the inexpensive wrist strap.
Finally I wish you luck in sorting the problems & personally I would go direct to Canon.
my recomendation would also be to have the body tested at the same time . theres a lot of delicate bits in there, it may well still work but some of functions or accuracy may be lost.


Martin (Huckaback Photo)